The AO Strategy Fund was launched by the AO Foundation Board (AOFB) in December 2013 to support strategic initiatives important to the organization. Examples of projects include: innovative initiatives in terms of new services, new technologies and unmet needs; projects enhancing the organization's visibility and reach; ideas to foster cooperation across the Clinical Divisions of the AO; initiatives to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency.

Applications are evaluated by a committee of the AOFB, which submits recommendations to the AOFB for approval. The committee comprises the following AOFB members: Florian Gebhard (Chair), Jean Pierre Cabassu, Neal Futran. Applications are evaluated for their impact on the mission of the AO to improve patient care, particularly the degree to which they deliver in terms of: level of innovation with regard to service offerings; impact on the organization's visibility and reach; ability to foster cooperation across the Clinical Divisions of the AO; impact on operational effectiveness and efficiency. All applications are equally assessed on their own merits.

Financing is provided in tranches, tied to the fulfillment of milestone deliverables. This is managed on a case-by-case basis, depending upon the nature of and the needs of each approved project, and is specified in an agreement between the AO Foundation and the applicant, covering all aspects of the project including funding, responsibilities and outcomes. Successful applicants are expected to fully document actual expenditure throughout the lifetime of the project.

Every approved project is carefully monitored against agreed milestones and deliverables on an ongoing basis throughout the lifetime of the project. The AO actively participates in investments through milestone management, and ongoing funding is strictly predicated on milestone attainment.

No further calls for applications are planned at this time, as the majority of available funding has already been committed. In the event of a new call for applications, this would be announced on the AO Foundation website.

Management of the Strategy Fund

The Fund operates under the management of the AOFB which, as sole decision making body for the Fund, retains all rights to approve, reject or request amendments to any application at its discretion. The decisions of the AOFB are final and binding.

Confidentiality

All applications are handled on a confidential basis. Only the AOFB and relevant members of AO Foundation group management have access to the applications, and only for the purpose of evaluation. The AO Foundation reserves the right to publicly use the applicant's name and photograph and details about the project for matters relating to the AO Strategy Fund.

Personnel

Any additional personnel shall be dedicated to the project and may be contracted only on a non-permanent basis. The applicant is exclusively responsible for the management and supervision of all personnel, in accordance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements including local laws and regulations. Personnel costs may not be dedicated to any activities other than the project itself.

Intellectual Property (IP)

In accordance with current AO Foundation IP policy

If the AO Strategy Fund provides funding for a project from which IP already exists, any such IP shall be licensed to the AO Foundation in a separate collaboration agreement as a pre-requisite to obtain funding​

Ownership of any new IP resulting from a project funded by the AO Foundation belongs to the AO Foundation to the extent legally possible

Exceptions to this rule are only applicable in the case of co-funding of a project through a third party; in such cases a separate written agreement must be established.